2016 System 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has questioned the mindset of George Russell because the 2026 title continues to slide additional and additional out of attain for the Briton.
Russell began out 2026 with excessive confidence, taking a dominant win in Australia which seemed to set the foundations of a title run.#
To say that his marketing campaign has faltered since then could be a dramatic understatement, as teammate Kimi Antonelli then took 5 consecutive victories, opening up a wholesome factors lead.
Whereas he has proven flashes of velocity since, together with taking two extra victories, he now lies a distant 81 factors behind Antonelli with simply 9 races remaining.
Though nonetheless mathematically attainable to catch his younger Italian teammate, one other under par weekend in Madrid noticed yet one more blow to his title hopes/
Rosberg praised Russell’s steeliness within the face of adversity, highlighting the work the Briton is doing to show the tide on a troublesome interval.
“I’m very impressed with George as a result of he’s actually a perfectionist and he tries to cowl each single facet of his human efficiency,” Rosberg informed Sky F1.
“I do know he’s even engaged on his psychological state. He’s meditating, he’s doing every little thing he can, and I actually I love that.
“But it surely’s all of the extra it’s robust for him as a result of he doesn’t perceive himself.”
Is self doubt creeping in for George Russell?
Nevertheless, Rosberg questioned whether or not self doubt is starting to creep into Russell’s mindset, which can be affecting his potential to battle again on and off the monitor.
“He’s all the time been quick,” he mentioned.
“He’s all the time been you recognize not less than stage along with his team-mate, and out of the blue it’s gone away from him, and it’s actually painful.
“Since you begin to doubt your self – ‘am I not sufficient?’
“It doesn’t matter how assured you’re. It then comes. ‘Am I simply not adequate, or was I higher prior to now, and I’m simply doing one thing fallacious now?’
“It’s actually troublesome.”
Russell is experiencing a difficult 12 months however will not be brief on sources to show the tide. Like every little thing in F1 this takes time, however that is one thing the Briton is quickly working out of in 2026 as he seeks to tug off one of many biggest title bid recoveries within the sport’s historical past.
READ MORE: How George Russell may take positives from attainable title defeat
